2025 UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year, “Dua (Pray for a Blessing)” by Ms Jamilah Haji

Thailand artist Jamilah Haji’s artwork, “Dua (Pray for a Blessing)”, which depicts hope and harmony, has clinched the 2025 UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year (SEA POY) award. The 35-year-old artist’s masterpiece rose above the outstanding winning pieces from the 2025 UOB POY competitions held in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Ms Jamilah will compete with the four other UOB POY country winners for a UOB-sponsored overseas art residency programme at Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris.

Crafted using embroidery on fabric, the artwork features women in prayerful poses, and symbolise a collective wish for renewal and harmony. Their figures are intricately interwoven in dream-like scenes, to create a powerful visual narrative that blends tradition, spirituality, and imagination. The artist drew inspiration from the idea of beauty as a reflection of resilience and used symbolic elements to echo the aspirations of humanity.

The artist said, “In a world overwhelmed by conflict, disease, and inequality, I feel a responsibility as an artist to be a voice for peace and hope. Through my work, I want to remind people not to stop dreaming, to hold on to hope, and to believe in their ability to create change. I drew inspiration from the idea of beauty as a reflection of resilience, using symbolic elements to echo the aspirations of humanity.”

The 2025 Southeast Asian and Singapore winners were announced this evening at the 2025 UOB POY Awards Ceremony and Exhibition, held at National Gallery Singapore. The Awards Ceremony was graced by Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State for Education, Mr David Neo. The winning artists from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam attended the ceremony alongside past winners, distinguished guests and members from the arts community.

The judging panel for the 2025 UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year (POY) comprised of the Chief Judges from each of the five participating countries: Dr Vichaya Mukdamanee (Singapore Chief Judge), Dr Agung Hujatnikajennong (Indonesia Chief Judge), Ms Intan Rafiza (Malaysia Chief Judge), Mr Amrit Chusuwan (Thailand Chief Judge) and Mr Dang Xuan Hoa (Vietnam Chief Judge).

2025 UOB Painting of the Year (Singapore) Award, Established Artist Category “Cloud of Unknowing I” by Mr Ian Tee

The artwork by Singaporean artist Mr Ian Tee, clinched the 2025 UOB Painting of the Year (Singapore) Award under the Established Artist Category. Drawing inspiration from calligraphy, the 31-year-old artist replaced traditional ink and brush with industrial tools and materials – grinding and cutting into an aluminum composite panel, to create a bold and raw aesthetic. The artwork explores the shifting interplay of light and shadow through an image that appears to move, as the surface reacts to light at different angles. Inspired by the cloud as a symbol of impermanence and transformation, the artist hopes to illustrate both the energy of movement and the serenity of emptiness through the artwork.

2025 Most Promising Artist of the Year (Singapore), Emerging Artist Category – “Existence is Prison, a Personal Account” by Ms Dayna Lu

Ms Dayna Lu was awarded the 2025 Most Promising Artist of the Year (Singapore) under the Emerging Artist Category for her artwork, “Existence is Prison, a Personal Account”. Composed using acrylic on canvas, the artwork depicts an endless sea of individuals confined within identical rooms, dressed in uniforms. Each cell, however, reveals a different emotional landscape to a shared experience of confinement – frustration, despair and longing. The 19-year-old artist drew on her personal experience of burnout as the once-manageable demands of school became overwhelming. Through the artwork, she hopes to convey the inner turmoil of youth as they navigate a structure that demands conformity.

The 2025 UOB POY Regional Winners’ Showcase will be held at National Gallery Singapore, UOB Discovery Space from 13 November 2025 to 31 January 2026, open from 10am to 7pm daily. The winning artworks can also be viewed on UOBandArt.com.